Annette Jorgenson

Annette Jorgenson was born in Berlin, Germany and now owns and operates a German restaurant called Through The Grapevine in Houston, Minnesota.  Work in the restaurant involves a tremendous amount of standing.  Working with sore legs and knees is simply not an option.  "We do a lot of work at the restaurant including making everything from scratch," said Jorgenson.  "We even bottle our own sauces." 

Owning a restaurant and standing all day is particularly difficult for Jorgenson who was born with a knee deformation.  "Years ago in Germany, good medical care was hard to come by. There were very few options for people with a rare condition like I had." By the age of one, Jorgenson lived with a full lower body cast.  Her rounded knees and bowed legs gave her a great deal of pain.  "Everything was difficult and my legs and knees were always sore," said Jorgenson. "Simple movements caused pain, especially at the restaurant when we were standing and moving frequently.  My mother would tell me that I was cranky and difficult to work with.  I didn't mean to be, it was simply that I was in so much pain."  Numerous treatments continued to fail for Jorgenson but relief was just a few miles from Houston in Viroqua.
Jorgenson began to consider surgery as her only option for relief.  She had spoken to a friend who had surgery at Vernon Memorial Healthcare and was so pleased that she thought Viroqua would be the perfect place for Jorgenson's surgery.

Jorgenson worked closely with Dr. Mark Romzek and was determined that custom knee surgery (CPI) would be her best option.  She attended pre-surgery meetings that she found to be informative and extremely helpful. "The entire VMH staff was helpful and friendly throughout the process.  I knew I had made the right decision even before I had surgery.  I was treated like royalty."

Jorgenson's surgery was on both knees and she anticipated a lengthy recovery.  Post surgery Jorgenson was in the hospital for five days.  "After my surgery nothing was rushed and I never felt like a burden to any staff member.  I was in quite a bit of pain and Dr. Romzek and the nurses were in frequent contact with me.  I felt special and was treated with genuine respect and caring hands."  Six months post surgery Jorgenson is moving faster than she has her entire life.  "Two weeks after surgery I was walking well with a walker.  There was still some swelling but recovery was rapid.  Six months after surgery I am walking, riding my bike and dancing!"

Jorgenson was so satisfied with the surgery that she recommends Dr. Romzek and Vernon Memorial to other potential surgery candidates.  "I have referred Dr. Romzek to anyone who will listen.  I can say nothing other than positive things.  My friend had surgery with Dr. Lawrence recently and she is thrilled as well. My expectations were more than met, Vernon Memorial staff exceeded them in every way.  Most importantly, I am working and living without pain."